Major Korean newspapers and broadcasters usually conduct opinion polls on the occasion of New Year’s Day, using the findings for special feature articles and programs. This year, they drew more public attention due to the general election scheduled for April. [번역] 한국의 주요 신문. 방송사들은 대개 새해를 맞아 여론조사를 실시하고 조사 결과를 특집기사, 프로그램에 사용한다. 올해 여론조사는 4월 총선 때문에 더 많은 관심을 끌었다. [/번역] In the political arena, the ...

Undeniably, some negative external factors created big hurdles for the export-driven economy last year. Among those were economic slowdowns in some of South Korea’s key export destinations. Nevertheless, it would be an irresponsible stance if any enterprise focused only on finding reasons to justify a retreat in its trade performance. [번역] 지난 해 몇몇 부정적인 외부 요인이 수출주도형 경제에 큰 장애물을 만든 것은 명백하다. 한국의 몇몇...

When it comes to domestic politics, President Park Geun-hye had a frustrating year in 2015. There being no tradition of compromise and mutual respect among political parties, she has had difficulty throughout the year enlisting cooperation from the main opposition party on her reform agenda. [번역] 국내 정치로 말하자면, 박근혜 대통령은 2015년 좌절스런 한 해를 보냈다. 여야 간 타협. 상호 존중의 전통 부재로 그녀는 1년 내내 개혁 어젠다에 대해 제1야당의 협력을 얻는...

As with all such agreements, the landmark deal on Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II has both positive and negative aspects. For the first time, Japan acknowledged the involvement of its military in the operation of the war brothels and clearly stated that its government was responsible. [ 번역 ] 이러한 합의가 모두 그렇듯 위안부에 대한 역사적 합의는 긍정적인 면과 부정적인 면을 모두 갖고...

Some stock analysts say that the nation’s oil refining industry is estimated to have suffered heavy losses in inventory values due to a deep slide in international crude oil prices. Dubai crude is staying under $40 a barrel while it hovered over $100 in the first half of 2014. The analysts argue that local oil refiners see the loss from the gap between the amount paid for oil in its inventory and...

The foreign ministers of Korea and Japan are to meet today to resolve the long-standing issue of the Korean women who were forced to serve as sex slaves for the Imperial Japanese Army. [번역] 한일 외교장관이 위안부 문제를 해결하기 위해 오늘 만난다. [/번역] The meeting raises expectations for a breakthrough as Japan appears more willing to resolve the knotty problem than before. It was arranged after Japanese Prime Minis...

Special economic zones -- whatever they are called -- are supposed to offer incentives unmatched by other areas, thus inducing enterprises -- especially foreign-based -- to make investments there. [번역] 경제 특별구역은 다른 지역과 비길 데 없는 인센티브를 제공해 특히 외국 기업들이 투자를 하도록 유도하게 되어 있다. [/번역] There are about 200 such zones in Korea, under various names like free economic zones, free trade areas, foreign investmen...

Last week’s rate hike in the U.S. is set to aggravate the interest burdens of Korea’s debt-saddled companies, including some of the corporate sector’s struggling business units. The ailing industrial segments include steelmaking and shipbuilding. [번역] 지난 주 미국의 금리 인상은 고군분투중인 일부 기업 부문을 포함해 한국 부실기업들의 이자 부담을 악화시킬 것으로 보인다. 부실한 부문으로는 철강, 조선 등이 있다. [/번역] Though a ruling party lawmaker in July propos...

Global rating agency Moody’s upgrading of Korea’s sovereign credit rating last weekend could not have come at a better time for the nation. [번역] 지난 주말 글로벌 신용 평가사 무디스의 한국 신용등급 상향은 한국에는 더할 나위 없이 시기적절한 때에 이뤄졌다. [/번역] Moody’s on Saturday raised Korea’s sovereign rating by one notch from “Aa3” to “Aa2,” the highest-ever rate Korea has received from an international rating agency. “Aa2” is the thir...

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a mausoleum in Pyongyang on Thursday to pay respects to his father, who died four years ago. The abrupt death of Kim Jong-il on Dec. 17, 2011, put the young heir-apparent on the throne in the second dynastic succession of power in the country. . [번역] 북한 지도자 김정은이 목요일 4년 전 사망한 아버지에게 경의를 표하기 위해 평양의 금수산태양궁전을 찾았다. 2011년 12월 17일 김정일의 갑작스런 죽음으로 김정은은 북한의 두 번째 권력 ...

The dispute over hoisting a giant national flag at Gwanghwamun Plaza, which pits the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans against the Seoul Metropolitan Government, goes beyond a policy conflict between the central government and a local government. [번역] 광화문에 대형 태극기를 설치하는 것에 대한 국가보훈처와 서울시의 논쟁이 중앙정부와 지자체의 정책 갈등을 넘어서고 있다. [/번역] There has been a lot of talk and assertions from both sides, but put s...

President Park Geun-hye has been repeatedly urging the National Assembly, particularly the News Politics Alliance for Democracy, to pass pending bills to vitalize the economy and reform the labor market as soon as possible. The delay in passage of these bills is not due to strong criticism by the NPAD. It is seemingly because they are not the primary concern of the main opposition’s key leaders a...

The Korea Federation of Banks and the Financial Services Commission have jointly announced new lending guidelines for banks in their bid to curb household debt. The measure is expected to slow the rapid rise of home loans extended by banks, but a soft landing of the worsening debt problem requires more comprehensive solutions. [번역] 전국은행연합회와 금융위원회가 가계 부채를 억제하기 위해 새로운 대출 가이드라인을 공동으로 발표했다. 이는 주택담보...

As the countdown begins for the U.S. interest rate hike, Korea is on edge to guard against its potential fallout on local financial markets. The Bank of Korea is in an emergency response mode -- monitoring global markets round-the-clock since Monday -- getting ready to intervene if there is excessive volatility. [번역] 미국 금리인상이 초읽기에 들어가면서 한국은 국내 금융시장에 대한 충격 가능성을 막기 위해 초조해하고 있다. 한국은행은 지나친 변동성이 있을 ...

Ahn Cheol-soo’s decision to leave the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy and create his own political party is bad for himself, the opposition and Korean politics as a whole. [번역] 새정치민주연합을 떠나 자신의 정당을 만들겠다는 안철수의 결정은 자신과 야권, 한국 정치 전체에 좋지 않다. [/번역] Ahn’s desertion from the NPAD, of which he once was a joint leader, is another typical case of the opportunism that he is now famous...